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Here's the part you're leaving out... Gymshorts took over a defense that was giving up 401.6 ypg and 26.9 ppg; They are now at 352.6 and 21.2 ppg. Rex took a defense that had been giving up 312.2 ypg and 18.1. And turned it into defense that now gives up 358.9 and 23.2 As an extra bonus, Gymshorts took over a Buffalo defense giving up 333.4 and 24.2 And turned it into a defense giving up 312.2 ypg and 18.1. Schwartz took 2 defenses in the past 3 years and made each of them better. Rex took over a defense and 2 years later, it is still worse. To quote the master at the mike, Bum Phillips... "He can take his'n and beat your'n and take your'n and beat his'n."

Cherry Pick..lol. OK. I was responding to a post where someone was talking about ONE game and acting like the guy is consistently winning these shootouts. I just pointed out that it hasn't been happening. But OK, since you asked. Big Ben since 2010 when the opponent scores more than 20 pts. 2016 1-4 2015 2-2 2014 6-5 2013 2-6 2012 0-5 2011 0-2 2010 2-2 Total 13-26 Overall record of winning 1 in 3 of those games. one year...out of 7...when he actually has a winning record. The other 6 seasons, he's winning 1 in 4 of those games. And the fact is, Big Ben IS a damn good QB. but ....the Steelers are smart enough to minimize those situations where he's asked to win a scoring fest. Their defense actually.....gasp....stops other teams. Had the Steelers D played like the Bills D in the past 9 games (7 of 9 opponents scoring more than 20 points), the Steelers wouldn't win their division and wouldn't be heading towards the playoffs.

Yep. It was the first game he's won this year when the opponent scored more than 20 points. He's 1-4 in those games. I wonder if the Steelers dump him after this year because he only wins 20% of the games when he's asked to carry a struggling defense.

a fitting ending to the genius that is a Rex Ryan defense.

The defense was exhausted from cheering on the offense..or something.

And yet there are still people defending his defense....

Believe what you'd like.

Sigh.. The team announced the move Tuesday, shortly after the NFL's free agency period opened, and a day before Fitzpatrick was due a $3 million bonus. "We kept every possible option open right down to the wire, when we had to make a decision on whether to keep Ryan," general manager Buddy Nix said. "In the end, we had to do what we feel is best for our football team. And it was a difficult decision." http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/9044711/ryan-fitzpatrick-released-buffalo-bills w/e

If not the best ever, he's top 3 with Walsh and Lombardi. He's a genuine student of the game, like both Walsh and Lombardi were. And there is one thing he has on both of them. He has a willingness to change scheme/game plan in a moment's notice and exploit a weakness. He can switch from 9 in the box to putting out 7 dbs from one series to another. He can go from 5 wide no huddle to running a big back up the middle for 10 straight plays. He's always looking to exploit a weakness.

Definitely not. And its somewhat well known that when Belichick went back to being a defensive coordinator, he also did soul searching. He bought a copy of his 80's arch nemesis Bill Walsh's book Finding the Winning Edge. He then studied it. He calls it his bible. Then he went to a crossroads in Mississippi and sold his soul to be a Super Bowl winning head coach.

Buddy cut Fitz in March of that year. They had one QB on their roster at the time of the draft, Tavaris Jackson. They hadn't drafted a QB since Trent Edwards in 2007. I still don't know how a team with Trent Edwards 5 years without drafting another.

Belichick took a five year sabbatical from head coaching after losing the Cleveland gig. Rex should have done the same.

And yet 4 of the top 10 passing yardage leaders are already eliminated, with Cousins hanging by a thread, and Flacco's and Rodgers' hopes tenuous.

I'd expect his numbers to go down. As Metz-Lives says, Taylor is a pretty big part of the running game. Not all "grond and pound schemes are created equal. This is really a pretty innovative running game. It relies on a number of things to make it work. Multiple blocking formations, interior lineman who can pull, lead blocking from a back. misdirection, etc. And it also relies on getting a defense to flow one way and then attacking in another area. And the threat of Taylor running is a large part of creating the misdirection. I may be one of the few (along with John Gruden), who actually enjoys watching it operate. I'll put it this way. If this was the Marrone-Hackett version of the ground and pound, with using the same running play up the middle on 1st and 2nd down, Shady may fare no better than Spiller did 2 years ago. And he would become frustrated, and people would call the trade a failure. With that aside...with competent play calling on the ground game, I'd expect Lynn to come up with a decent enough game plan where the fall off wouldn't be cliff-like. It would suffer, but not be fatal. As far as the "guy who can pass for 200 yards", I'm assuming you mean a pretty mediocre QB. A guy like Osweiler, Trevor Siemian or...moving up the line a bit, a Sam Bradford. In terms of passing yards, a QB like that might be able to offset the lost rushing yards (and you have to add in Taylor's 500+ rushing yards). But in terms of scoring....idk if the O would score any more points, ...or even as many. Osweiler has around 14 TDs Siemian has around 16 Bradford has 19 Taylor has 20 passing and rushing. I'd also expect more sacks and more ints. At times, Taylor has a good amount of time to throw and leaves the pocket early. But he probably leads the league in making-the-guy-who-comes-in-untouched-in-less-than-a-second miss category. Most pure pockets passers would be getting nailed more than people want to admit. Now, if you're talking about a Phil Rivers or Drew Brees as the guy who can throw for 200 yards, I'd agree...but I'm not sure if that's what you meant.

In terms of red zone efficiency, they rank 3rd in the league. In terms of time of possession, the Bills hold on to the ball 1 second more per game than Denver; 57 seconds less per game than the Chiefs; 1 minute 51 less per game than the Steelers. When you consider that there are now enough commercial between changes of possession for defenders to catch a quick power nap...the "defense is exhausted" excuse is a bit of a stretch. The real reason for the difference ...those teams can hold an opponent below 3+ TDs per game. Their defenses are just plain better.

The Bills have scored 24 or more points in 10 games this year so far..they haven't done that in forever. the Steelers are 9-1 in games when they scored 24 or more points; the Chiefs are 7-0 I think The Broncs are 6-1; The Texans are 6-1 in which they've scored more than 20, I think. The Bills are 5-5.

Im not a Whaley hater (or a Tyrod hater), but Derek Carr was taken at the 4th pick of the 2nd round that year. I know the argument...you don't take a QB in the 1st when you did the same thing the year before. I didn't believe that then, I don't believe it now. They took a QB in Manuel who, by all accounts, was a bit of a longshot (I don't blame Whaley for that..), Not a guy you place all of your hopes on. *EDIT Oops..to clarify....on the THAT year, I was referring to the year Watkins was taken, not the year after.

If Russ has any say in it... Al Pacino Nate Scarborough the character actor who coached Denzell Washington's defense in Remember the Titans Mad Dog Maloney.

3-4 46 Cover 2 3-4 4-3 3-4 hybrid 43 3-4 self-confusion 3-4 fully pregnant. For the most part (not always), the offense has been the neglected child, addressed after the most current defensive scheme change is installed. Add in some desperation no. 1 picks used on QB, rather than planning ahead..and a half finished OL..and you get what you get. Last year's offense was the 2nd highest scoring offense this team has had since the drought,l tying the 2002 season. But someone needed a scapegoat for the Fully Pregnant defense.

Rex or Sully? I knew Rex had some talent at passing the buck...but after watching him for more than a year, the guy is on a whole different level when it comes to blaming others. He'd kick ass in corporate America

Hughes was going to complain about the scheme, thought about Mario, and took the term "biting your tongue" too literally. My biggest question was why Gailey was still trying to run the ball into the 2nd quarter. They hadn't stopped the pass all night, so why bother trying to run? It didnt matter anyway...Fitz still threw for a jillion yards. Just about every coach watching that game last night, from the Pop Warner through college levels was saying to himself :"I can call a better defensive game than this" Most would have been right.

I see a Rex and Rob ESPN talk show in their future. With any luck, Russ will be their welcoming host.

I wonder what Sal's follow up article will be? The NO Saints 2015 defense, Part Deaux? Where is John Idzik when you need someone to blame? It'll be another 3-5 year rebuild for a crappy defense?

Your prayers have been answered. TJ Barnes from NT to OT. If history is followed, That should give another 2 years to saying "can we at least let him get some experience before we invest more in the position?

Oh, they're loud. We had some in our maple trees last year. About as annoying as fingernails on a blackboard, amplified by a concert sized sound system Sometimes we had to shout at each other if we were in the front yard when they were screeching.